King Marden of Aelfrace
The half-elf king Marden of Aelfrace, The king of Albright, the Songwoods, the Nentir Vale, and the Hammerfasts holds power over all of the major kingdoms of the Nentir Vale. The king, of royal lineage on both the Elven and human sides of his family, came to power shortly after the Bloodspear Wars, when it became clear that the Nentir Vale could only defend itself from outside forces by joining together, under one kingdom.
The king, though fair-minded in his policies, holds a tenuous grasp over all of these kingdoms. He has brought the dwarven kingdom of Hammerfast into his realm by holding his royal trasury, and the gold standard, in Dwarven vaults.